GI Stasis

One of the most common causes of death in rabbits is something called Gastrointestinal Stasis, or, GI stasis. Commonly known as GI, this life-threatening disorder of the gut is all-too-common, particularly with novice rabbit owners.

Basically, GI is caused by the rabbit's intestines being blocked. In almost all cases, the blockage is caused by ingested hair. Bonded pairs of rabbits, and molting rabbits are the ones most at risk. Rabbits are physically unable to vomit, meaning any intestinal blockages can't just be chucked up. Small amounts of fur often pass through the digestive system, but when there's too much, the rabbit becomes at risk of GI stasis. Because the entire digestive system is essentially turned off, the first obvious symptom is usually significantly reduced appetite, and ultimately, the animal refusing to eat at all.

Once the rabbit has stopped eating, that's where the real problem begins. Rabbits HAVE to keep on eating frequently to keep their digestive systems going. Unlike humans or dogs or cats, they cannot go long without eating. Otherwise their system shuts down completely.

If you suspect your rabbit has GI, contact your vet immediately and schedule an emergency visit. Your animal's life is at risk. In the meantime, syringe feed your rabbit a formula called Critical Care, mixed with water. Critical Care is a readily available powdered rabbit feed that can be made into a sloppy formula to stimulate appetite. It is something all rabbit owners must have in their arsenal. You never know when your rabbit may go off their feed. I always give it to my rabbits if they show a decreased appetite. 9 times out of 10 it brings them back to normal in no time. But, if it is a serious GI, the Critical Care most likely won't help.

If you catch a GI blockage early enough, there are some other things you can do to try and fix it yourself before you risk stressing the rabbit out by going to the vet. What I'll typically do is syringe a bunch of olive oil and pineapple juice. This will lubricate the digestive tract, and the enzymes in the pineapple will help break down the hair. Like everything in this article, this isn't guaranteed to work, but it is something I have often had success with in the past.

Usually the only cure for GI is a surgery that is highly risky and very often results in the rabbit's demise. It is your choice whether you want to have the surgery done or not, but understand that rabbits do not handle surgeries well. On the other hand, the rabbit definitely will not survive if it has untreated GI stasis.

To prevent GI stasis, feed dried papaya to your rabbits often, as it contains enzymes that help the hair pass smoothly through the digestive tract and minimizes the risk of blockage. Also, groom your rabbits like crazy when they are in a molt to get rid of the extra hair, or the rabbit will lick it off and ingest it.